Hello beautiful friends and welcome to a new week! Today I’m sharing another round of smalls, but with a holiday twist! I had holiday ideas for a couple of pieces from my latest thrifty haul and thought it would be fun to do a whole round holiday style!
These six thrifted finds will all be getting mini holiday makeovers:
The first item up for a brand new holiday refresh is this basket I paid $6.25 for at the thrift store:
It is on the larger side and I knew it would be perfect for a Christmas upcycle! I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
I started by giving this basket a liberal coat of Voodoo Gel Stain in Up in Smoke to tone down the light color. It comes in a squirt bottle, so I just squirted it on and used a wax brush to get it into all the weave:
Then I dry brushed it in Cotton:
I knew this basket would be perfect for holding one of our Christmas trees:
This tree was also a thrift store find several years ago. I found it in the off season, and it was like brand new in the original box for only $6!
I love the lighter look of this basket now…
Here it is all aglow…
Next up is this pair of frames I picked up for $7 for both:
I love to display past holiday photos and these were perfect candidates for a Winter wonderland makeover!
I started with the darker one and primed it with Rustoleum spray primer. Then I gave it two light coats of Rustoleum Robin’s Egg. As soon as I applied the second coat, I added white glitter while the paint was still wet:
I transformed my mini Christmas Village Set the same way. I found this glitter at Hobby Lobby a few years ago.
This was perfect to hold this sweet Christmas picture of my boys:
This was taken in 2012…they were just babies!
I did the second frame very similarly, except I did that one in Rustoleum Satin White:
Cutie!
It’s harder to see the sparkles on this one in the photos, but they make it so festive!
Next up is this rocking horse I picked up for $3.25:
You know I grabbed it up quick! I just love it!
This got a couple of coats of Cotton and a mini transfer for a fresh new look:
The mini transfer is from a set that I use all the time called Classic Vintage Labels by Re-designed by Prima. If you search that name on Etsy, you’ll find several shops that have them.
I tried to get my Hubby to light the pilot light in our fireplace so I could have a nice fire in the background, but he wasn’t able to get it to light boo hoo. Just imagine a lovely, warm fire in the fireplace back there. Cozy, huh?
If you take a peek at the before, the body of the horse was light, and as you can see here, the distressed areas are darker:
That’s because I faked the distressing! I totally cheated the distressed look using a distressing block.
This next mini makeover is a piece I picked up because I loved the saying on it…
So true, right?
I photographed this with the rest of my Biggest Thrifty Haul of them All, but I never included it in the collage of all the pieces I planned to make over because I hadn’t planned to share such a simple redo.
However, after painting it in Cotton, it made for a such a cute addition to this Christmas vignette in our kitchen that I thought it might be share-worthy now:
Life really is so much better with cookies!
And finally, I picked up this sign for $3.25:
I often pick up signs that have a nice shape to them when I see them. I knew I could paint this one up to say something different.
I started by giving it two coats of Barn Red:
Then I used my Silhouette to cut out a phrase I liked. I created my own, but the Silhouette Design Store has a ton of designs you can download and cut. I cut this one on contact paper and lined it up on my sign. Then I gave it two light coats of Rustoleum spray paint in Satin White:
After the second coat and while it was still wet, I added white glitter to the letters:
Then I removed the contact paper right away:
Because I had already added glitter, I didn’t have too many options for sealing it, so I used Rustoleum’s clear matte spray sealer.
I added it to this simple greenery wreath and voila!
Let’s jingle!
I tried to show the glittery letters, but it’s hard to see here…
It is really pretty in person!
And that’s six mini holiday makeovers complete!
Lyla wanted to jump in and wish y’all the happiest of holidays!
She posed so nicely, but she doesn’t look like she quite trusts me here lol.
Shop news
In shop news, if you have been patiently waiting for the new reformulated gilding wax to be released, I now have it in stock in my Etsy Shop!
I also just listed our new silkscreen stencils:
I’m excited to give those a try!
I hope you enjoyed these simple makeovers today! You can even transform dated decor you already own and give it some holiday flair.
I am excited to cross several pieces off the list!
If you want to revisit any, you can see them all at the links below:
Kudzu Painted Side Table
REPURPOSED HEADBOARD AND FOOTBOARD
VINTAGE SECRETARY DESK MAKEOVER
$3 THRIFT STORE HEADBOARD REPURPOSED
WALL CABINET REPURPOSED
WINDSOR ROCKER MAKEOVER
DROPLEAF TABLE AND CHAIRS MAKEOVER
I’ll be back on Thursday with my Furniture Fixer Upper girls. We don’t usually do a brand new makeover this close to Christmas, so I’ll be sharing my favorite Furniture Fixer Upper makeover of the year!
UPDATE: See what my favorite Fixer Upper Furniture makeover was HERE now!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Christina says
Love the basket transformation! Love the addition of glitter to the frames and the sign. Of course the photos of your boys are wonderful.
I was kind of expecting you to faux distress in white on the raised sections of the Jingle sign. lol Way to mix it up!! The rocking horse is completely charming… yes… I can see a fire going! 🙂
Oh Lyla, what a beautiful girl you have grown up to be!!! Gorgeous!!
Congratulations on all the new products. Can’t wait to see what you do with them.
Happiest Holiday Season!!
Christy says
Thank you, Christina! I enjoyed dressing these pieces up for Christmas! Happy holidays to you and yours too…this holiday certainly is flying by! XOXO
ColleenB.~Tx. says
Love your smalls make-overs. Especially love that cute little rocking horse.
Thank You for inspiring us with all your transformations.
Enjoy your day and have a wonderful week
Christy says
Thank you, Colleen! The horse might be my favorite! Enjoy your week also! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
Wow, I love the smalls when you do them! How fun that you did Christmas smalls! I LOVE how every thing turned out, so cute. My favorite has to be the rocking horse, I wish I could find one at my thrift store. I am sure going to keep looking, because that is so cute. I love how all of them turned out. So creative and such an inspiration!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! I like doing them because it feels so good to cross several things off! Keep looking for that rocking horse…I just know you’ll find one eventually! XOXO
Rosie says
Loved all your transformations! They sure get you into the holiday spirit. Just loved all your ideas thanks for sharing🤗
Christy says
Thank you so much, Rosie! XOXO
Robin Simonds says
I absolutely love your work. I have dreamed of having a small shop to do DIY things but I am probably too old to start now! I do have a China cabinet I would like to paint but can’t decide what to go with. Would love your input if you aren’t too busy. Can send a pic if you are interested. Thanx for your creative imagination and how to’s.
Christy says
Thank you, Robin! You are never too old to be creative! Feel free to share a photo, but I always suggest a neutral that will stand the test of time on those larger pieces! XOXO
Liza says
Simply gorgeous all! I look forward to these posts. Your pieces are lovely and I love the way that you style them all! Merry Christmas!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Liza! Merry Christmas to you too!! XOXO
Wendy Somerville says
Beautiful as always Christy. We moved this past summer to a small country town by the US border, from the city. So things have been hairy and still lots of boxes to go through. Moving from a 2800 sq ft house to a maybe 1900 sq ft bungalow has been challenging since I was not able to reduce or give away a lot of my things due to covid. So it all ended up here. I found a great thrift shop in a larger town only 20 min from me and they have great things. As well as they will take some of my things I no longer need. Win Win all the way. Hope you and your family stay safe during this time of uncertainty and have a great Christmas and New Year.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Wendy! I don’t envy you with all the packing and unpacking! It’s awesome that you found a good thrift store not too far away though. Good luck going through everything and you stay safe too! Merry Christmas! XOXO
MrsSW says
The rocking horse is so cute. I really expected the transfer to be Santa and his reindeer.
Sheila
Christy says
Thank you, Sheila! That would have been perfect! XOXO
Michele M. says
Well done, Christy!
Each piece came out perfectly splendid!
Christy says
Thank you, Michele! XOXO
Sandi Allen says
What beautiful transformations. I don’t know which one is my favorite, lol! I was gonna say the basket, but then I saw those frames….that Robins egg blue color is so Beautiful (that sweet picture of your boys❤️) but then that rocking horse…. I m really loving that, thanks for sharing all your transformations with us.
Christy says
Thank you, Sandi! It was a lot of fun to give these pieces a holiday spin! I think I’ll keep them all this time ha ha! And it seems like just yesterday we took those photos of the boys! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Chisty! I just love Lets Jingle! That is so stinking cute. I also love the way your basket turned out. No more orange baskets for me from now on. The Voo Doo Gel makes a big difference with Cotton. The little horse is so sweet. Everything looks great! Have you tried the new Gilding Waxes? I wonder what color Zinc would be. Gray maybe? Thank you for all your wonderful ideas for our upcycling. I know i appreciate it a lot!
Christy says
Thank you, Cheryl and you are SO welcome! Yes, no more orange baskets for me either lol. I haven’t had a chance to try the gilding waxes yet, but I think the Zinc is a dark gray. Enjoy the rest of your day! XOXO
Denise Cox says
They’re all lovely!!! I really like the basket!! And, as I said before…
I WANT THAT HORSEY… 😁.
Christy says
Thanks so much, Denise! I had to grab that horse the minute I saw it! XOXO
Dee says
Your makeovers are so incredibly inspiring. It’s like a quickie class. Thank you for all the work you put into the blog. We love it! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Christy says
I appreciate that so much, Dee! Thank you! Merry Christmas to you as well!! XOXO
Janice Holt says
Love all of these. Hope you keep them because they sure look pretty in your house.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Janice! I actually am keeping everything this time ha ha! XOXO
Sue H Mellette says
Oh! I love them all!. Especially the frames with your boys’ pictures. I really like what you did to the basket- using gel stain and cotton. It really gives the basket a classic fresh look. I love seeing your rocking horses and this one with the stencil is no exception. What a great redo! Love the quick remake of the Cookies sign and you staged it so perfectly!. Love, too, the “Let’s Jingle” remake of the Old Glory sign. The 3 layer display really makes the sign pop! You are so creative!! Thanks for sharing all the wonderful smalls!
Christy says
Thank you, Sue! I’m so glad you enjoyed this bunch! I had fun adding a holiday spin to each of these pieces! XOXO
Rebecca Payne says
I love all of your projects. I look forward to your posts. Great job.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Rebecca!! XOXO
Debra Hubbs says
Love every transformation.
Christy says
Thank you, Debra! XOXO
Teresa Farrell says
Master magician😁
I love the whites you do. I would never have thought of using the voodoo stain first,but it is beautiful. Such beautiful and simple things to make Christmas magical.
Lylah is such a beauty…grew up to fast.
Merry Christmas my friend…..oh and look for an order for gilding wax and stencils🤣
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! The Voodoo worked fantastic on the basket! And yes, my girl is a full grown kitty now…that sure was quick! I saw your order come through this morning and I knew you were after the waxes ha ha! They are on their way! Merry Christmas!! XOXO
Julie Briones says
Your smalls look lovely, Christy! I especially like the aqua frame with the sparkles… it really pops!
Christy says
Thank you, Julie!! It is really pretty in person! Merry Christmas! XOXO
Ansje says
More fabulosity! Love all the makeovers!
Christy says
Ha ha thank you, Ansje!! XOXO
Addie says
Nice job on the haul. So cute and creative!!! People just get rid of things without thinking how they can be used further.
Lyla is huge!!! I think she needs a buddy!!!….from Santa!!!
Have a great weekend!!! xoxo
Christy says
Thank you, Addie! Yes…you could totally transform what you have already instead of looking for new! Unfortunately Miss Lyla is about a pound overweight. We’re working on that lol, but she really is a big girl and I would love for her to have a buddy! XOXO
Charleen Adams says
Love your smalls. The rocking horse was darling. My favorite was the cookie sign.The white brightened it up so well. Have a Blessed Christmas and may we all have better New Year. Take care
Christy says
Thank you, Charleen! I agree…the white on that sign worked so well with the chalkboard look of it! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas as well, and may we all be blessed with a better 2021! XOXO
ROSE LEFEBVRE says
Great projects! I especially love the blue frame!
Christy says
Thank you, Rose! XOXO
Petra says
As always love it all – especially the little horse! And I laughed when I saw Lyla – she really does look wary 😀
Christy says
Thank you!! Ha ha, she really does!! XOXO
Dianne says
Christy, everything is so cute! And it all looks beautiful in your house. I have got to try that Up in Smoke Voo Doo stain. Love the look of it. And I love the pict of Lyla. She’s a big girl now. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.
Christy says
Thank you, Dianne! That stain is great, water-based and so easy to use! And yes, Lyla is a big girl. The vet said she could stand to lose a pound…we’re working on that lol! Merry Christmas! XOXO
Cheryl says
Great job!! Love them all!
Christy says
Thank you, Cheryl!! XOXO
Lola Fields says
WOW! The rocking horse I use to make those back in the day. It was a Julie White’s pattern. I did a double-take when I saw it.
Christy says
Oh cool! This one has great lines! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
Paint and glitter, what more could you ask for? Fun to see some things you kept for yourself, Christy. Wishing the entire family a safe and happy Christmas.
Christy says
Right? Paint and glitter to the rescue! Thank you, Marcie! A very Merry Christmas to you and yours as well! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
All of these are great but the rocky horse is what I was waiting for you to make over. I found a small one and wasn’t quite sure what to do! Miss Lyla is the star!
Christy says
Thanks, Cecilia! Yes, Miss Lyla is the star for sure lol! XOXO
Olga says
I love them all Christy! Great makeovers!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Olga! XOXO
vicky says
I can’t believe how even the cotton paint looks on the basket that you painted. I have some baskets that I have painted and there must be a trick. Maybe it is just taking more time. Would appreciate any practical help.
Christy says
This one was stained first, and then dry-brushed. I just tried to go straight across and up and down with the dry brushing, to keep the lines of it uniform. XOXO